Door-operating means.



J. E. MUTCHLER.

DOOR OPERATING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1917- 4 I. 7) ill/11112 5% WITNESSES 3 5/ 3 INVENTOR QMW A? 4 /0 W P Muicfl'e ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 191?.

JOSEPH E. MUTCHLER, 0F SPARTA, MICHIGAN.

DOOR-OPERATING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Application filed April 27, 1917. Serial No. 164,927.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. MUTCHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Kent andSt-ate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Operating Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to door operating means, and more particularly to means for automatically opening the door of a garage to permit the entry or exit of an automobile.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide means -of simple and durable construction for opening the door of a garage, such means being thrown into and out of operation by the approaching automobile. A further object is to provide a slidable door in connection with a rotatable drum and a cable windable on the drum and secured to the door, the drum being rotated by means of an electric motor connected thereto. A still further object is to provide simple and etficient control means for throwing the motor into and out of operation, such means being actuated by a depressible platform mounted adjacent the door opening of the garage. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of an operating means constructed in accordance with my invention as applied.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1 with the platform raised, this view being partly diagrammatic.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view through the control switch.

Fig. 5 is a top plan .view of the control switch and door securing means actuating mechanism.

The garage indicated generally by A is rovided with the door opening B which is inclosed by the usual door frame having the side beams C and D. A door slide or guide beam E is secured to the front of the garage, the upper face of this beam being flush with the door plate, in the usual manner. A track F is secured above the door opening and slidably receives the door Gr suspended therefrom by hangers H, this door being of such size as to cover the opening when in closed position.

The structure so far described is of standard construction and forms no part of my invention except in so far as the various elements cooperate with the opening and closing means to effect the desired result.

A. drum 1 is rotatably mounted in rear of door G in a supporting frame 2 secured to the front of the garage and held rigidly in position by the lateral braces 3 and at. A. cable 5 is secured to the door G at the center of the back edge thereof, this cable being also secured to the drum so as to be windable on the same thus moving the door into open position when the drum is rotated.

A pulley 6 is secured on the drum shaft and is connected by a belt 7 to a pulley S secured on the shaft 9 of an electric motor 10 mounted in front of the garage. One end of the field coils of this motor is connected by a wire 11 to a metallic sleeve 12 secured in an arm 13 which is rockably mounted at its lower end on-a supporting rod 1% projecting from the front of the garage. The other end of the field coils of the motor is connected by a conductor 15 to a similar sleeve 16 secured in arm 13 in spaced relation to sleeve 12. These 'two sleeves are adapted to receive the contact studs or fingers 17 and 18 carried by a fixed arm or standard 19 secured to the front of the garage and spaced a short distance from arm 13. Finger 17 is connected by a wire 20 to the positive side of an electric battery 21, the negative side of which is connected by a wire 22 to finger 18. WVhen the arm 13 is rocked toward arm 19 so as to electrically connect the fingers 17 and 18 and sleeve 16 and 12, respectively, the motor 10 will be energized from battery 21 so as to rotate drum 1 and thus open the door.

An inclined platform 23 is rockably mounted in front of the garage with its inner end closely adjacent the door plate. A supporting shaft 24 is secured to the underface of this platform adjacent the outer edgethereof. The ends of this shaft are reduced to form trunnions 25 which are inserted through eyes 26 secured in blocks 27. An expansion coil spring 28 is mounted beneath platform 23 adjacent each inner corner thereof. These springs act to normally hold the inner end of the platform raised a considerable distance above the lower edge of the door-way or opening and are of such strength that, when the automobile which is to enter the garage runs ma am;

electrical energy having its opposite sides connected to the contact fingers, respectively, of the fixed switch arm, connections between the sleeves of the movable switch arm and the motor, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one arm extending beneath said platform so as to be depressed thereby, resilient connections between the other arm of said lever and the rockable switch arm, a tripping arm rockably mounted in rear of the rockable switch arm and connected thereto, and a tripping pin projecting from the door and adapted to engage said tripping arm when the door is moved into open position so as to break the circuit of said motor.

2. In door operating means, the combination with a garage having a door opening, of a slidably mounted door adapted to close said opening, a rotatable drum mounted in rear of said door, a cable secured to said door and windable on the drum so as to open the door when the drum is rotated, an electric motor for rotating said drum, driving connections between the motor and drum, a depressible platform mounted adjacent the door opening, a fixed switch arm provided with spaced contact fingers, a rock ably mounted switch arm movable toward and away from said fixed arm and provided with spaced contact fingers, a rockably mounted switch arm movable toward and away from said fixed arm and provided with spaced sleeves adapted to receive said fingers so as to be connected electrically thereto, a source of supply of electrical energy having its opposite sides connected to the contact fingers, respectively, of the fixed switch arm, connections between the sleeves of the movable switch arm and the motor, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one arm extending beneath said platform so as to be depressed thereby, resilient connections between the other arm of said lever and the rockable switch arm, a tripping arm rockably mounted in rear of the rockable switch arm and connected thereto, and a tripping pin projecting from the door and adapted to engage said tripping arm when the door is moved into open position so as to break the circuit of said motor.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. MUTC ER. Witnesses:

MAY MUTGmER, 

